Polish machine for billiard balls and the like



J. WISE July 18, 1961 POLISH MACHINE FOR BILLIARD BALLS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 20, 1959 I m Me ME Q. mW Q 3 3 s e 3 m a J mi 2 9 4 NJ 3 Am 4 4 m United States Patent 2,992,446 POLISH MACHINE FOR BILLIARD BALLS AND IKE This invention relates to a new and improved machine for polishing billiard balls and the like. With the passage of time, billiard balls, pocket billiard balls, and similar spherical objects become discolored and imperfections appear in the surface, and further in racking pocket billiard balls there is a tendency for flat surfaces to be formed thereon as the balls are slid over the table in a rack where they are not free to roll. The present invention relates to an electrically-driven machine for polishing balls of this type.

One of the features and advantages of the invention is the1 elimination of the hand labor involved in polishing bal s.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that by reason of the construction of the machine a thorough polishing action is achieved which is superior to that of hand polishing.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a machine which polishes the surface of balls and eliminates surface imperfections and discolorations which commonly occur during use of such objects.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the balls may be placed in the machine and left unattended while the polishing action is being performed, thereby freeing the attendant for the performance of other duties. For example, at the commencement of operations the attendant may place a full set of pocket billiard balls in the machine for polishing and at the same time clean the table surface, with the result that the two operations are completed about simultaneously.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a sufficient number of pockets in the machine to accommodate about half of the full complement or even the full complement of the balls used in a conventional game of pocket billiards so that by loading the machine once or twice all of the balls may be polished.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of the machine;

FIG. 2. is a side elevation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

A conventional pocket billiard ball or billiard ball 11 is spherical, but the diameters of such balls vary, and further in different areas of the world standard balls have different diameters. As hereinafter explained, the present machine may be adjusted to accommodate balls of different diameter.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, there is provided a top table surface 12 which is here shown to be of octagonal shape, but which may be of various other shapes such as circular. Disposed in the top surface of the table 12 is a plurality of pockets 13, all

equidistant from the center of the table, and here again the number of pockets is subject to variation, but as illustrated herein there are eight such pockets which are sufficient to accommodate half of the total number of pocket billiard balls and the cue ball for a standard game of pocket billiards. It will be understood that sixteen pockets may be formed to accommodate a full set of balls. Each pocket 13 is formed by boring in table 12 a hole 14 of a diameter substantially greater than the largest diameter of the ball to be accommodated. The cylindrical wall of the hole 14 is lined with a ring of a polishing material which is preferably lambs wool. Thus, the skin 16 of the fur is glued or otherwise bonded to the Wall of the hole 14 leaving the fur 17 facing inwardly of the hole and contacting the ball 11 placed in the pocket.

Because the diameters of balls 11 vary and in order to achieve the best polishing action, it is desirable that the elevation of the table 12 be adjusted so that the fur 17 firmly contacts the ball 11.

In order to achieve this purpose, table 12 is supported by an annular ring 21, which is in turn supported by vertical legs 22 fixed at their bottoms to circular disc base 23. Interposed between annular ring 21 and table 12 is a plurality of spacers 24 which may be changed, and by changing the thickness of the spacers 24 the elevation of the table 12 may be altered. Thus, at each of a number of spaced locations a threaded bolt 26 is fixed in ring 21 and projects upwardly through the spacer 24 and through holes in table 12. A wing nut 27 secures the table 12 to the ring 21. In order to change the spacers 24 the wing nuts 27 are removed, the table 12 lifted off the ring 21 and the spacers 254 replaced.

Below the level of table 12 is a rotating disc 31 having a diameter less than the internal diameter of ring 21. On the top surface of disc 31 is an annular ring of lambs wool 32 immediately underlying the pockets 13. The skin 33 of the wool is glued or otherwise secured to the disc 31. Disc 31 is rotated by means of an electric motor 36 fastened with its shaft 37 vertical to the base 23 by means of bracket 38. A gear reduction box 39 is used in connection with motor 36 and the take-01f shaft 41 thereof is secured to collar 42 of drive disc 43 by means of set screw 44. Disc 43 is secured to the underside of rotating disc 31 by means of a plurality of screws 46.

Thus in use, the operator removes nuts 27 and changes spacers 24 depending upon the diameter ball 11 being polished. Table 12 is then replaced and nuts 27 retightened. It will be understood that generally it is not necessary to change the spacers 24 since operating conditions will not vary from day to day. Thereupon, motor 36 is started by a switch (not shown) causing disc 31 to rotate. Balls 11 are placed in the pockets 13 and their bottoms contact Wool 32. The rotation of disc 31 thus imparts a rotary motion to balls 11, and hence a combination polishing action is obtained by the wool 17 in each pocket and by the wool 32 on the rotating disc 31. Rotation is continued until the polishing action is complete, and this removes discoloration and smooths out surface imperfections. When the desired result has been attained, the motor 36 is stopped and the balls removed.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within 3 the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for polishing billiard balls, a base, an annular supporting ring, means elevating said supporting ring above said base, a table, means detachably securing said table to said supporting ring, interchangeable spacer means between said table and said supporting ring for changing the elevation of said table, a rotatable disk below said table, and means for rotating said disk, said table being formed with a plurality of circular holes of a diameter greater than that of a billiard ball whereby a ball fits through one of said holes and rests on said rotatable disk.

2. In a machine according to claim I, a facing of polishing material on said rotatable disk beneath said holes and a second facing of polishing material around the walls of each of said holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,690,195 I-Ialey Nov. 6, 1928 FOREIGN "PATENTS 381,301 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1932 

